PIC16LF18346-I/P - 32MHz 8-bit XLP MCU 28KB Flash DIP-20
MPN: PIC16LF18346-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.65 | $1.65 |
| 10 | $1.48 | $14.80 |
| 100 | $1.32 | $132.00 |
| 500 | $1.18 | $590.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.05 | $1,050.00 |
PIC16LF18346-I/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, and peripherals on one die. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16LF18346 sits in the 8-bit MCU family (microcontroller -> MCU -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC16 family -> PIC16F18xxx sub-family -> power management sub-system of an embedded design). The XLP designation specifically emphasizes ultra-low-power operation, extending battery life in portable, IoT, and energy-harvesting products compared with conventional 8-bit parts.
Key features include Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) for flexible digital peripheral mapping, two Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) for hardware glue logic, a Numerical Controlled Oscillator (NCO) for fine-frequency synthesis, a 10-bit ADC with Computation, a 5-bit DAC, two CCP modules, Complementary Waveform Generation (CWG), and four 10-bit PWM channels. Two I²C and two UART/SPI interfaces support modern serial connectivity, and 256 B of EEPROM provides non-volatile data storage without external memory.
The architecture uses a RISC-based 8-bit core with a 14-bit instruction word, hardware stack, and zero-latency interrupt handling. PPS routes digital peripherals to almost any I/O pin, letting designers swap pin assignments on the fly without respinning the PCB. Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as CLC, CWG, NCO, and PWM operate without CPU intervention, allowing the core to remain in deep sleep and reducing average current to single-digit µA.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, low-power remote controls, energy-harvesting devices, LED lighting controllers, and consumer appliances that demand long battery life and small footprints. The 20-pin PDIP package simplifies prototyping on breadboards and through-hole PCBs, making the device a common choice for evaluation, hobby, and low-volume industrial designs.
When designing with this MCU, allocate decoupling capacitors (100 nF plus 1-10 µF bulk) close to VDD/AVDD pairs and respect the 3.6 V absolute maximum to avoid latch-up. Use PPS to remap peripherals before locking the I/O assignment, and verify unused peripherals are disabled in firmware to minimize quiescent draw.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the same PDIP-20 footprint, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18346-I/P — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PIC16LF18346-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, DAC, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18346-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18345-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF18344-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18346-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18346-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC® XLP™ 16F |
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Instruction Word | 14-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14) |
| SRAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 18 (on 20-pin package) |
| ADC | 10-bit, with Computation |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| PWM Channels | 4 x 10-bit |
| CCP Modules | 2 |
| CLC Modules | 2 (Configurable Logic Cells) |
| NCO | 1 (Numerical Controlled Oscillator) |
| CWG | 1 (Complementary Waveform Generator) |
| Comparators | 2 |
| EUSART | 2 |
| I²C / SPI | 2 x I²C / 2 x SPI |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP (P) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF18346-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive power supply |
| Pin 2 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS, analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS, MCLR/VPP |
| Pin 5 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS, analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS, analog input |
| Pin 7 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS, analog input, ICSPCLK |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS, oscillator |
| Pin 10 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS, oscillator |
| Pin 11 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS |
| Pin 12 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS |
| Pin 13 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS |
| Pin 15 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS |
| Pin 16 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS |
| Pin 17 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS, ICSPDAT |
| Pin 18 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O with PPS |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive power supply |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18346-I/P is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Energy-Harvesting Wireless Switch, LED Lighting Controller, Consumer Remote Control, Industrial Sensor Transmitter, Hobby and Prototyping Platform, Medical Wearable Patch.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF18346-I/P fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because of its 1.8 V to 3.6 V operation, XLP nanoWatt sleep currents below 1 µA, and 32 MHz CPU for fast wake-and-transmit cycles. With 28 KB Flash, the part runs simple wireless protocol stacks (LoRa P2P, BLE beaconing) and small RTOS-free firmware for periodic sampling. The 10-bit ADC with Computation samples temperature, humidity, or gas sensors autonomously using the ADC's hardware averaging while the core stays asleep. PPS routes I²C sensor interfaces and UART wireless module handshakes to any available pin, simplifying PCB layout. At 32 MHz and 3.3 V, active current is roughly 4-6 mA, but with a 1% duty cycle the average draw drops into the tens of µA - extending coin-cell life to multi-year runtimes.
Recommended
Energy-Harvesting Wireless Switch
The PIC16LF18346-I/P suits energy-harvesting wireless switches thanks to its nanoWatt XLP sleep mode and Core Independent Peripherals that operate without CPU intervention. CLCs implement self-powered debouncing of the kinetic energy harvester, while the CWG and NCO generate precise transmit frequencies without waking the core. The device wakes on a hardware interrupt from the harvester, transmits an encrypted packet, and returns to sleep in microseconds. The 1.8 V minimum supply matches the output of typical energy-harvesting PMICs. PPS allows the same firmware to be reused across different PCB antenna routings. The 20-pin PDIP package is preferred for hand-assembly in low-power wireless switch prototyping, reducing tooling costs.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16LF18346-I/P powers LED lighting controllers by using its 4 hardware PWM channels and Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) to drive constant-current LED drivers with smooth dimming. The 10-bit ADC reads ambient light sensors and potentiometer dimmers, while CLCs implement custom fade curves in hardware without CPU overhead. The NCO synthesizes a precise PWM frequency to avoid visible flicker in video applications. With 28 KB Flash, the part supports DMX-512, DALI, or proprietary lighting protocols. The 1.8 V to 3.6 V range lets the controller run directly from a 3.3 V LDO downstream of an offline AC-DC supply. PPS routes PWM outputs to any pin for flexible PCB layouts across product variants.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control
The PIC16LF18346-I/P serves consumer IR/RF remote controls because of its sub-µA sleep currents, fast wake from sleep on an interrupt, and 32 MHz CPU for protocol-bit generation. CLCs encode IR or RF carrier frequencies, while the NCO generates precise 38 kHz / 40 kHz / 433 MHz modulation patterns without CPU involvement. The 2 KB SRAM is sufficient for command buffers and pairing state, and 256 B of EEPROM stores user preferences and learned device codes. PPS lets designers reuse firmware across different IR/RF module pinouts. With 2 AA cells, the XLP features extend battery life beyond the shelf life of alkaline cells, eliminating user-replaceable batteries in some designs.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter
The PIC16LF18346-I/P suits 4-20 mA industrial sensor transmitters because of its 10-bit ADC with Computation, 1.8 V to 3.6 V operation from a loop-powered supply, and 256 B of EEPROM for calibration data. The ADC's hardware averaging reduces noise without CPU overhead, while the DAC can drive a precise 4-20 mA current loop using an external op-amp and pass transistor. CLCs implement HART or similar modulation protocols in hardware. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating covers most factory-floor environments. PPS simplifies layout when routing analog and digital signals on a tight sensor PCB. The 20-pin PDIP package is preferred for field-replaceable industrial modules.
Recommended
Hobby and Prototyping Platform
The PIC16LF18346-I/P is a popular choice for hobbyists and prototyping because of its 20-pin PDIP through-hole package, which plugs directly into breadboards and IC sockets. The 32 MHz speed, 28 KB Flash, and rich peripheral set (CLC, NCO, CWG, PWM, ADC, DAC) support a wide range of projects from robotics to home automation to music synthesizers. MPLAB X IDE and the MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) generate free C firmware frameworks, while the PICkit 4 or Snap programmer/debugger programs and debugs the device in-circuit. PPS allows pin reassignment via firmware - critical when breadboard wiring forces different pin usage. The 1.8 V to 3.6 V range lets hobbyists power the MCU from USB, bench supplies, or 2-cell battery packs interchangeably.
Recommended
Medical Wearable Patch
The PIC16LF18346-I/P fits medical wearable patches because of its nanoWatt XLP sleep currents, compact 20-pin PDIP for early-stage prototyping, and 10-bit ADC with hardware averaging for low-noise biosignal sampling. The 1.8 V minimum supply runs directly from a 3 V coin cell, while the CLCs implement low-pass filtering and baseline subtraction in hardware - critical for ECG, EMG, or SpO2 front-ends without burning CPU. EEPROM stores patient IDs and calibration data securely. PPS routes analog sensor inputs and BLE/UART wake lines to any pin, simplifying miniaturized PCB layouts. The -40C to +85C range covers body-worn operating environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18346-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18346-E/P | PIC16LF18345-I/P | PIC16LF18344-I/P | PIC16F18346-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP - same | 20-pin PDIP - same | 20-pin PDIP - same | 20-pin PDIP - same |
| Flash | 28 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 28 KB |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB | 512 B | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Peripherals (CLC/NCO/CWG/PWM/ADC) | 2/1/1/4/10-bit ADC | 2/1/1/4/10-bit ADC | 2/1/1/4/10-bit ADC | 2/1/1/4/10-bit ADC | 2/1/1/4/10-bit ADC |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature grade option available in same package (vs PIC16LF18346-E/P)
- Industry-leading Core Independent Peripherals (CIP) (vs PIC16LF18345-I/P)
- Wide low-voltage range optimized for battery operation (vs PIC16F18346-I/P)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as physically possible to each VDD/VSS pair (pins 1, 8, 19, 20). Add a single 1-10 µF bulk capacitor near the MCU to handle transient current demands during sleep-to-active transitions. For battery-powered designs, route all unused I/O pins to outputs driving low or enable the internal weak pull-ups to minimize leakage; combined with disabling unused peripherals in firmware, this typically reduces quiescent current to < 1 µA.
When migrating between the 20-pin PDIP (I/P) and 20-pin UQFN (I/GZ) packages, do not assume drop-in compatibility - the UQFN requires a different PCB land pattern and cannot be socketed onto a DIP breadboard. Use PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) to remap digital functions in firmware rather than re-routing PCB traces; this allows the same PCB artwork to support multiple firmware variants. Keep the ICSP programming pins (RA0/ICSPCLK and RC1/ICSPDAT) accessible for in-circuit programming - do not load them with low-impedance peripherals.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum VDD of 3.6 V (LF variant) or 5.5 V (F variant). The MCLR pin (RA3) is a high-voltage programming pin - avoid low-impedance loads that could prevent programming voltage from rising above VDD. PPS remapping must be completed BEFORE the peripheral is enabled; reversing the order causes glitches. The ADC's computation features require a Fosc of at least 1 MHz to operate; below this threshold, ADC readings become unreliable. For I²C bus pull-ups, use 4.7 kΩ to 10 kΩ resistors - lower values waste current in low-power designs.
Route analog signals (ADC inputs, DAC output, comparator inputs) away from high-frequency digital lines and PWM outputs to minimize coupling. Place a ground plane under the MCU to provide a low-impedance return path; split the ground plane only if the analog and digital grounds are isolated by impedance. For Crystal or external oscillator operation, keep traces short and surrounded by ground to minimize EMI. PPS allows relocating digital peripherals to avoid routing conflicts - use this to keep analog traces short.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - automotive applications should evaluate AEC-Q100 qualified PIC16 variants or the extended-temperature E/P variant for non-safety automotive uses. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in datasheet.
